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To the Chairman and Members of the
Chigwell Urban District Council
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In this, my first annual report, I have endeavoured to present a
brief account of the activities carried out by your Public Health Inspectorate
in connection with environmental health matters; also included are the statistics
required by various Government Departments.
Co-operation among Senior Officers and the staff of all Departments of
the Council is not solely confined to times of crisis but is very evident at all
times and I wish to record my appreciation to my colleagues in this respect.
Thanks are also due to the Public Health Department staff, particularly the Medical
Officer of Health, Dr. H. Franks, for the outstanding help and support given and
to Members of the Council for the confidence shown in the Department.
The 'doomwatch' boom accelerated by 'European Conservation Year - 1970'
continued unabated, achieving even greater proportions during 1971. This
awakening of public concern and participation has done considerable good but
care should be taken to avoid over emphasis or over reaction, both potentially
harmful. That serious problems exist is beyond doubt, but the general public
do not seem to be aware that the battle of the environment has been fought by
responsible organisations, particularly Local Government, during past years and
our increasing longevity is no accident, nor is the fact that the United Kingdom
remains generally an attractive place in which to live.
The ever increasing awareness by the public that 'standard of living'
includes not only an increase in the pay packet, a new car or coloured television,
but also leisure, tranquillity, beauty and a clean environment must help because
it is with the public that the final solution rests. It is therefore of paramount
importance to present the public with authentic and balanced information upon all
aspects of pollution, unfortunately this does not always happen. Pollution of
the environment by the motor car is an example, much being made of exhaust emission
whilst the physical presence of the motor car caused the deaths of 7,696 and the
injury of 344,390 people in the United Kingdom during 1971. The motor car also
makes extravagant demands on land, particularly in towns and areas of scenic
beauty. People, particularly children, are driven from the use of streets for
social enjoyment, playing games, walking and cycling, by the noise, dirt and
smells and fear of accidents. But few people would be willing to restrict
their use of such a flexible and personal mode of transport, even with a much
improved public transport system.
The effects of past and present serious pollution problems demand
alertness to the possibility of further threats to the environment, prevention
being always better than cure. This fact has been well publicised but still
we suffer from very basic 'grass roots' problems. Until every person lives
in accommodation which is suited to their needs, equipped with all essential
amenities and situated in decent, clean surroundings, we must not be at all
complacent.
P. W. RILEY, M.R.S .H. ,M.A.P.H.I.
Chief Public Health Inspector
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